Kiev authorities do not control the situation in the country, therefore, the Russian Federation reserves the right to defend Russian nationals in Ukraine - said Russian Foreign Ministry officials on Friday referring to the March 13 events in Donetsk.
"Not once, we have asked those that came to power in Kiev to disarm armed gangs, and ensure the legitimate right of people to protest in public. Unfortunately, this is not what's happening..." emphasizes the communique issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On March 13, right-wing radicals supporters of the putschist Kiev government clashed with pro-Russian protesters in Donetsk; as a result, one person was killed and many more injured.

According to local media reports pro-Maidan activists started provoking the pro-Russian crowd, by shouting slogans like “Glory to Ukraine” and “Glory to heroes”, loudly demanding the respect of Ukrainian territorial sovereignty.

Lavrov: No one has cancelled the right of peoples to self-determination

Photo: EPA

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has not threatened Russia with sanctions during negotiations in London on Friday said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov adding that Russia's partners are well aware that sanctions are counterproductive.

According to Lavrov, it is pointless to speculate about the result of the upcoming referendum in the Crimea: no one has cancelled the right of peoples to self-determination. It is part of the United Nations Charter.

Putin made ​​it clear: The Crimean referendum on Sunday will go ahead as planned

The scheduled Crimean referendum is in accord with international law said Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday rejecting the accusations that the referendum on the self-determination of the people of the peninsula would be illegal.

The Kremlin leader talked to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the phone and among other things he "confirmed that the decision to hold a referendum in Crimea is entirely consistent with the norms of international law and the UN Charter" reads the Kremlin statement.

The Russian president dismissed accusations of Western countries that the referendum on the independence of Crimea was illegal. Putin made it clear that the referendum on Sunday will go ahead as planned.